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Friday, November 16, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Mea Culpa,” (or as I call it: "Peter Stone - A Series of Unfortunate Events") directed by Mariska Hargitay, is one of those episodes that is sure to give fans plenty to talk about. The episode centered on Stone and a woman that surfaced from his past who accused him of rape. It was a given that he wouldn’t be guilty of such a heinous act, so there was no suspense there. But this meant the drama had to be manufactured elsewhere.

It just so happens that Stone and the SVU are in the middle of a “he said/she said” case, and Stone quickly finds himself in the same predicament. A baseball fan from Chicago, who saw Stone play baseball there, just so happens to spot Stone outside the courthouse and they decide to go for drinks. While there, it just so happens that Stone is approached by yet another woman who slaps him and accuses him of rape during the time he was playing baseball. This is quite a series of coincidences that have lined up to create problems for Stone.

At some point, Stone drinks too much and winds up in Fin’s apartment and sleeping on the sofa. Stone explains to Fin the accusation of rape and strongly denies doing this. (Side note: Ice-T doesn’t drink coffee but at least Fin apparently has a coffee maker in his apartment.) Rather than let sleeping dogs lie, Stone wants Fin to help him get to the truth. Tracking down a fellow baseball player, Reggie, they find the name of the woman who accused Stone of rape, but Fin hits a wall with Sarah, the accuser. Stone continues to work the original case with Benson. She gives him the “what woman wouldn’t want to go through the trauma of a rape investigation, a trial, just for kicks” speech. As a result, he later confides in her, thus bringing even more problems on himself when he asks her to open an investigation. I find myself yelling “FOOL!” out loud. This is the crux of my problem with this episode. I understand Stone wanting to know the truth but it is obvious that Sarah did not want to dredge up the past to the point of an investigation. Maybe her slapping Stone in the bar was enough closure for her? I can understand Stone wanting to get at the truth to clear his own conscience and his name, but I am not sure that he and Benson thought this fully through, as their actions had consequences.

We also hear a few times about what is SVU’s job: Stone tells Benson it is her job to believe the victim, and later, Carisi tells Rollins that it is their job to believe survivors. It sounds to me that the writers of this episode are speaking to the viewers here, trying to emphasize how this fictional SVU works. In my opinion, I always saw the SVU as advocates for victims, but in the earlier years of SVU, they usually looked at each case with an objective lens. I don’t think this happens anymore; in fact, Carisi seems guilty about believing Stone. This is one of those cases where maybe Benson should have looked at this case with an open mind, and suggest that as Sarah didn’t want to pursue the issue that Stone should let it go. There is believing the victim, but there also needs to be a highly credible story or evidence. Clearly neither Stone nor Sarah can recall everything that happened that night, and in those cases, whom does one believe when there is no evidence and completely opposite stories? Would Peter Stone even take a rape case like this if it didn’t involve himself? If the victim, who is of the age of consent, says to drop the matter, should this stop SVU from investigating further?

When Benson decides to investigate the matter with Sarah (why it couldn’t be Carisi doing the questioning I don’t know), Sarah’s husband Gary just so happens to come home unexpectedly. Benson can’t think fast enough for a cover story for Sarah, so Sarah is basically forced to spill the beans to Gary. He decides to press charges. Can someone with real life legal experience explain to me how a person can press charges, on behalf of another, for a crime committed against another person? Sarah probably went along with it to keep the peace with her husband but ultimately isn’t it her decision? This whole mess would not have happened had Benson either decided to meet with Sarah in a neutral spot or come up quickly with a cover story when her husband entered so Sarah had some time to decide whether to tell him or not.

But wait, there's more! The situation gets uglier when Gary confronts Stone in a bar and holds him hostage at gunpoint. (Here is the drama they had to manufacture.) Benson arrives on the scene. Why would SVU be called for a hostage situation and how did she get there so quickly? She notices Sarah and their daughter are standing nearby – wow, these people found out what was happening and can move around the city with lightning speed – and Benson announces to the borough commander that this is her case and she takes over. Benson facilitates Gary letting Stone go, she’s the hero!

Later, Benson wonders if Sarah and Gary’s daughter may not be Gary’s, as the timing is right and Stone wasn’t the only one there that fateful night. She tricks Reggie into agreeing to lie for Stone. She uses his willingness for perjury and a potential DNA test on Sarah’s daughter to put a squeeze Reggie and get him to implicate himself. She arrests him and Benson is the hero AGAIN! (Note: the daughter WAS Gary’s.) Did Benson go at it alone with Reggie? No one else seemed to be there to back her up during her questioning and his arrest. That is risky on many levels. He could flee or he could have denied admitting anything to her. Seeing that she works with Stone, Reggie could have claimed she set him up and or lied about his admission as she has a conflict of interest.

If anything, this experience may make Stone even more reluctant to take on a "he said/she said" case, and maybe even STOP DRINKING.

When we weren’t seeing Benson save the day, we also discover that Al has asked Rollins to move in with him (not marry him) and she’s thinking about it. Carisi touches Rollin’s pregnant belly - yes I know they are friends - and this could be considered inappropriate behavior for the workplace. And yes, we did see the inside of Fin's apartment but it's not the first or only time as some have reported or implied.

By the way, this was Peter Scanavino’s 100th episode as Sonny Carisi, and his 101st with the series. (He appeared as another character in “Monster’s Legacy” in 2013.) It would be wonderful to give this talented man a more substantial story line. I've liked his character from day one and wish that they'd work harder to showcase Peter.

Here is the recap: Stone is at a bail hearing, and gets remand for the defendant. Afterwards, he and Carisi speak with the victim, Alicia, and after she leaves, Carisi is surprised that Stone got a remand on a “he said/she said.” Carisi suggests they get a beer but Stone passes, saying he is trying to slow it down. After they part ways, Stone heads to a food cart and is recognized by a woman who knows he pitched for the Cubs. She is excited, saying her dad took her to every game. She has to call her dad, then suggests they go for a drink. He agrees, and hands the hot dog back to the vendor, telling her he knows a place around the corner.

Meanwhile, Rollins is in an expensive, fancy restaurant with Dr. Al Pollack. She comments on the truffle sauce and they talk about food they ate in Georgia. They talk about the selections on the dessert menu and he calls over the waiter and asks for one of every dessert on the menu and coffee (“decaf for the lady”). She says a girl can get used to this. He comments he has something to ask her, adding “a commitment I have never made before." He places what looks like a ring box on the table and Rollins looks pleasantly surprised, and says when she said he was happy…he asks her to hear him out. She opens the box and sees a key, and he asks her to move in with him. She smiles.

Stone and the woman are in the bar and he gets up to get another drink. While he is at the bar, a blonde woman walks up to him, stunned, and asks what he is doing in New York. She comments that he doesn’t remember him, and when he says he doesn’t, she slaps him. She said, “You raped me, you son of a bitch.” Stone is stunned.

Friday, November 9, 2018

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “Mea Culpa” which will air on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 10PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Philip Winchester, George Newbern as Dr. Al Pollack, and Austin Peck as Reggie Gregg. This episode was directed by Mariska Hargitay.

Here are preview clips from Law & Order SVU “Mea Culpa” which will air on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 10PM ET on NBC. The videos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, and Philip Winchester. (This episode was directed by Mariska Hargitay.)

“Hell’s Kitchen”, directed by Monica Raymund, featured a story that combined sex crimes in the restaurant business with the recent sexual assault accusations that surfaced during the Supreme Court confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. Despite being a bit predictable, the episode was enjoyable, with crisp dialog and location shots that provided some spice for a story that was light on action. Everyone had screen time and played a part in the investigation, striking the right balance between lead characters. I am not sure if it was Monica’s direction or the writing - or neither of those things - but Mariska seemed energized in this episode, especially in the scene with Stone outside the courthouse. It’s the first time in a long time I haven’t been annoyed with Benson.

Stone, on the other hand, rubbed me the wrong way. This does not mean I don’t like Philip Winchester; on the contrary, I think he’s a great match for the show. But Stone is making rookie mistakes. It was obvious when he promised the current victim that the other three victims would not back out of their support that something would put that promise in jeopardy. He should have known better; the complaints by those women weren't prosecuted and would likely be challenged as prior bad acts. I’m also tiring of Stone bringing the murder of his sister into the mix with every opportunity. It’s bad enough the writers killed her in order to give Stone a story. They should close the loop on that story line and move on. Likewise, let’s move away from Stone and his baseball skills. It’s time to build the character of Peter Stone based on the legal work he’s done in the past or legal work he’s doing NOW. We need to like and respect Peter Stone as a prosecutor. We need to see his own passion as a prosecutor. At this point in time, he’s still being driven by what Benson thinks is important.

I was amused when Fin sipped the expensive wine and said it tastes like warm apple juice. And while I am on the subject of food tastes, I have a suggestion for Benson: if you want your child to try black olives, introduce them into a food you know your child enjoys…like pizza! You’ll have a better chance for success.

Here is the recap:

A chef, Andrew Liebowitz, prepares a fancy meal and gets irate when he calls for service and no one picks it up. He continues to get upset and decides to deliver a meal to the table himself when the manager tells him about two special diners who are waiting. He welcomes the diners, Brian Matthews and Niraj Patel, to "Far Rockaway by Andrew." They have been enjoying the food. He asks if they can hang out a bit after dinner and when they agree. Andrew says the waitress, Kayla will show them to their private room.

Meanwhile, at Benson’s home, Noah questions what Benson gave to him to eat (they are olives). She wants him to eat new things and he wants pizza. She suggests he try them and he spits them out, pushing his plate away and demanding pizza.

Afterwards, Kayla drinks some tequila while she is working at the bar section, the bartender saying there are big tips at the bar and the bedroom. She says no more tequila of she may end up taking Marco home. Brian and Niraj are there and when she delivers their drinks, they ask for her to sit down. When she says there is no chair Niraj says Brian would be fine if she sat on his face. Brian asks her to run his card and when she reaches for it, he pulls her onto his lap. She tells them this is not that kind of club and she walks off. The female restaurant manager asks if she is okay, and Kayla says yes, it’s half the gig. The manager adds it is the story of her life.

Later, two police officers hear a call for help and a man telling a woman to get out of his car. They intervene and find the woman in the back seat, her blouse opened. Sometime later, Fin and Carisi arrive on the scene. The two officers explain her name is Kayla Morgan; they walked by just as the Uber driver was climbing on top of her in the back seat. The driver, Michael Boykin, claims he tried to end the ride, saying Kayla refused to exit the vehicle. They add that Michael says she seemed wasted and he tried to help her out of the car but she started wailing on him. She did not say he tried to rape her, but her shirt was ripped like someone tore it open. She put up a fight and busted the driver’s lip, and he wants to file assault charges. Fin suggests they take them both back to SVU.

At SVU with Benson and Rollins, Kayla doesn’t recall much of what happened, thinking she passed out. Benson tries to get her to recall before she got into the Uber, but she doesn’t. Meanwhile, Fin and Carisi speak with Michael who denies doing anything, saying he is the victim. He did not tear her blouse and says he will give them his DNA or take a lie detector. He was on the phone with his wife. He thought something was off with Kayla, she was staring into space like a zombie and he tried to shake her out of it. She went off on him like a lunatic. Back with Benson and Rollins, Kayla stands up and says this is a waste of everybody’s time. Benson comments that she knows this is difficult but they are almost done, if she can give her one more minute. Rollins asks if she recalls how her shirt got ripped. Kayla admits she had a lot to drink, but she doesn’t know where, it is fuzzy. Rollins explains this is normal, victims don’t remember all the details of their assault. Kayla gets upset and insists she is not a victim. Benson states quietly that she thinks maybe she was. Kayla says the Uber guy didn’t do anything, and asks if he is pressing charges. Benson does not think so. Kayla says okay, great, she’s leaving. She storms out of the room.

Afterward, Carisi comments they checked Boykin’s phone and confirm he was on the phone with his wife. They explain she got picked up at Far Rockaway by Andrew, a high-end seafood joint. Carisi said he took a date there once, it set him back a couple hundred bucks. Rollins asks if it was worth it, and he says every cent. Benson tells them to cut Boykin loose and check it out.

At Far Rockaway Restaurant on Saturday, October 27, they speak with the female manager who explains Kayla works there. The kitchen closes at one. One of the servers, Marco, has a thing for her. They speak with Marco who suspects she was raped as he knows what SVU means. They hear about her working an “after party” and that management likes to keep the guests boozed up and happy. They then speak with the bartender. He admits he had some drinks with her and then mentioned the two TV execs who got handsy with her. They left at 2:30-2:45. The last he saw her was about 3 when she went to the wine cellar, Andrew needed her for something.

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Here are preview clips from Law & Order SVU “Hell’s Kitchen” which will air on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 10PM ET on NBC. The videos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, and Peter Scanavino.

Friday, November 2, 2018

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “Hell’s Kitchen” which will air on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 10PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Philip Winchester, and Jacob Pitts as ADA Chris Hodges.

Update November 5, 2018 – Three photos have been added (below) featuring Monica Raymund as she directed this episode.

I have mixed feelings about Law & Order SVU “Caretaker.” It featured a case different from the norm with a guest star in a lead role that was both compelling and revolting. Sasha Alexander was amazing but it felt like she was the only one who put her heart into her role, a "family annihilator." Despite criticisms I have about this episode, I still give it high marks, mostly for Sasha’s performance.

“Caretaker” didn’t involve a sex crime. Instead, the SVU gets involved in a case where a young boy is found wandering the street, injured and bleeding (he later dies), and his sister and father are brutally murdered in their beds. (This case is reminiscent of a Law & Order episode, “Savior”, season 6, episode 16. Update: I forgot about Law & Order SVU "Annihilated", season 8, episode 20.) It’s an unusually bloody scene for Law & Order SVU, but this fits with SVU’s 10:00 PM air time. I'm not convinced, however, that this fits as an SVU case.

Something rubbed me the wrong way in the first few minutes of the episode: Benson, upon seeing one of the bloody beds, comments that she was going to get that bed for Noah. This is one of those thoughts that Benson should have kept to herself. Yes, it’s a shock to see something that one was thinking about buying that is now part of a horrific crime scene, but the comment felt out of place, bordering on inappropriate. This is just the start of how the SVU framed this crime around their own personal fears. When it seems like the nanny may be a suspect, Benson and Rollins voice their worry about leaving their own children with nannies. With all the heinous sex crimes they’ve seen in their career, I guess it took a murder for them to worry about a "stranger" taking care of their children. (This included Benson trusting her son Noah with his own biological grandmother, and we all know how that worked out for her.) Carisi explains that his mother raised 4 kids with no nanny, and Fin states it’s hard to raise kids while one is working. Maybe this is a New York City – or a big city – thing, but I’ve seen countless families raise children without nannies, even families where both parents work. Yes, it is hard raising kids and working at the same time, but a nanny is an expense the average family likely cannot afford. While Benson and Rollins moan about leaving their children with a nanny, I wish someone was there to remind them how lucky they are that they can even afford one.

I suspected very early on that Anna was behind these murders; something felt wrong when Anna said that she’s was often told that her daughter was prettier and smarter than she. It sounded a bit like jealousy. Benson can’t seem to fathom a mother doing this to her children; again, Benson has blinders on when it comes to women. (We are not all pure and innocent!) Maybe she’s never seen anything like this before but surely Benson reads the news and has heard of women killing their children before. Even when they discover that Anna has been committing fraud at her legal firm, pocketing millions of dollars, Benson still seems unconvinced, saying Anna may be a thief but that doesn’t make her a murderer. She then adds that mothers don’t kill their babies. In what universe is Benson living? It isn’t until Fin brings in blood evidence that Benson decides to turn up the heat. Here’s my big problem: I don’t think the SVU should have been called into this crime, or at least they should not have taken the lead. Imagine the 27th precinct handling this...they would have turned the screws on Anna the minute they heard about the fraud and likely not waited for blood evidence to do so.

Once Anna makes a confession, we quickly move to Stone and the trial. Anna is also examined by Dr. Abernathy while in Rikers, and Abernathy later tells Benson and Stone that Anna fits the profile of a family annihilator. This is concerning to Stone. He worries the defense attorney, Billy O’Boyle (from Stone's Chicago days) will use this to the hilt. As Stone progresses through the trial, there were a few things that puzzled me. First, Stone meets with resistance when he shows photos of the crime scene while Anna is being cross examined. I cannot believe this was the first time the jury, or Anna, would have seen these images. Yet the jury seemed shocked and Anna looked so upset the judge told him to move on. If Stone waited until Anna was on the stand to show those photos, I think he missed the chance to show the horror of the crime scene along with the evidence found that implicates Anna. Second, we didn’t hear any mention at trial from Stone about the fraud she committed and the millions of dollars she stole. Why not? I would think that this would all provide motive for premeditated murder. We also didn't hear Benson testify about what Anna told the nanny (goodbye versus goodnight). I know we can't see the whole trial, but we are fed pieces of crucial information that is left dangling out there.

Stone also miscalculated when he puts Benson on the stand and she frames her answers as if she had the medical expertise to say that Anna is not legally insane. Her answers were fodder for the defense. Also, Benson states she's been a cop for 20 years. I believe that is incorrect. She’s been with SVU that long, but was probably a cop before starting in SVU.

The shoehorned scene of the week was Rollins getting a huge bouquet of roses from Al, with Benson encouraging her to keep them as sometimes they “need a little pretty.” (I rolled my eyes at this, I found it horribly corny.)

The kicker at the end of the episode was when a convicted woman - found guilty of murdering her husband and admits she killed her children - is not put on suicide watch. The inevitable happens.

As I write this review, I’ve come to the conclusion that I may not have liked "Caretaker" after all. Sasha Alexander clearly saved part of it for me, but the story itself felt sloppy and not clearly thought through. It was one of those episodes where the cast looked tired and going through the motions. There are things going on with SVU that I DO like: more location shots which bring visual interest, more realistic interaction between the lead characters, and more out of the box story lines. The first half of the episode feels more energized. Still, something is lacking, and I’m having a hard time putting my finger on it. I think it’s a combination of story believability, clichéd dialog, and attention to detail, especially on the legal side. Regardless, I’m coming back next week for more.

Here is the recap:

A woman sees a young boy, Charlie, walking outside in his pajamas. He is bleeding and collapses. The woman screams for help. Later, police are on the scene as Benson and Fin arrive. They hear Charlie Mill has been taken to St. Vincent’s. The neighbor’s maid spotted him. They enter the home and find a bloody bed, Benson commenting she was going to get that bed for Noah for Christmas. They find the daughter and the father also dead in beds covered in blood. Benson hopes that there is no mommy.

Later, a crime scene officer explains what was found on the scene and how they were killed (while they slept). Carisi is now on the scene and Benson tells him there is no sign of forced entry, Carisi adds the coffee is on in the kitchen and there is an empty cereal bowl. Fin explains the mother is Anna Mills who works for Schwartz, Medley and Clark and the neighbors says she leaves around 8 AM. Carisi gets a call from Rollins and then tells Benson and Fin that Charlie did not make it. Benson says this is not the kind of thing a mother should hear on the phone, and Carisi says he will tell her.

At the law firm of Schwartz, Medley and Clark on Thursday, October 25, Carisi powers his way into a meeting and asks to speak with Anna Mill. He delivers the horrific news in her office. She collapses upon hearing the shocking news.

Later at SVU, Anna is speaking with Benson and Rollins. Benson explains there was no evidence her home was robbed and asks if anyone had a grudge, Anna raises her voice and says her children are dead, and, sobbing, asks what kind of a grudge would cause somebody to kill her children? Rollins suggests her husband has an enemy and Benson wonders about co-workers. Anne explains Julian works alone, he is a writer. He works from home, he would pick up the kids from school every day, make dinner, and tuck them in at night. She says everyone said Rachel looks like her but was prettier and smarter than she, and she sobs. She adds only Delores Alvarez, the nanny, had a key to their home. She lived with them for almost 10 years and she works every day but Sunday. She was supposed to work today. Anne hasn’t heard from her this morning, but says Dolores is like family, she wouldn’t hurt anyone.

At the apartment of Delores Alvarez, Bronx, New York on Thursday, October 25, Fin and Carisi get no answer so they enter and Delores is not there. Carisi comments his mom raised 4 kids and they had no nanny. Fin says it is hard raising kids while you are working. The family photo looks happy. Carisi finds a diary making a comment that the kids love their dad but need a momma and Anna doesn’t know what a sweet man she has. Fin sees a knife in the drain board that is still wet, and Carisi finds a shirt with what looks like blood on it.

Meanwhile, at SVU, Rollins speaks with the woman who found Charlie who says Delores is a good person, is happy, and loved those babies. Rollins explains they can’t find her. The woman says she has a brother, Emilio, who lives in the Bronx and Delores usually spends the day with him.

At the apartment of Emilio Alverez on Thursday, October 25, Carisi and Fin speak with Emilio who has an attitude, The detectives barge in and look around. Fin sees a closet that is covered up and moves stuff away to open it, finding Delores. Emilio says she didn’t do nothing, but Fin says she is under arrest.